This paper reports the hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure refinement of diiron(II) phosphate hydroxide, Fe-2(II)(PO4)(OH), obtained at 1063 K and 2.5 GPa. This phosphate is the synthetic ... [more ▼]

This paper reports the hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure refinement of diiron(II) phosphate hydroxide, Fe-2(II)(PO4)(OH), obtained at 1063 K and 2.5 GPa. This phosphate is the synthetic analogue of the mineral wolfeite, and has a crystal structure topologically identical to those of minerals of the triplite-triploidite group. The complex framework contains edge-and corner-sharing FeO4(OH) and FeO4(OH)(2) polyhedra, linked via corner-sharing to the PO4 tetrahedra (average P-O distances are between 1.537 and 1.544 angstrom). Four five-coordinated Fe sites are at the centers of distorted trigonal bipyramids (average Fe-O distances are between 2.070 and 2.105 angstrom), whereas the coordination environments of the remaining Fe sites are distorted octahedra (average Fe-O distances are between 2.146 and 2.180 angstrom). The Fe-O distances are similar to those observed in natural Mg-rich wolfeite, except for two Fe-O bond distances, which are significantly longer in synthetic Fe-2(2+) (PO4)(OH). [less ▲]

Aims:The principal aim of this project is to determine the structural parameters of the rapidly pulsating subdwarf B star PG 0911+456 from asteroseismology. Our work forms part of an ongoing programme to ... [more ▼]

Aims:The principal aim of this project is to determine the structural parameters of the rapidly pulsating subdwarf B star PG 0911+456 from asteroseismology. Our work forms part of an ongoing programme to constrain the internal characteristics of hot B subdwarfs with the long-term goal of differentiating between the various formation scenarios proposed for these objects. So far, a detailed asteroseismic interpretation has been carried out for 6 such pulsators, with apparent success. First comparisons with evolutionary theory look promising, however it is clear that more targets are needed for meaningful statistics to be derived. Methods: The observational pulsation periods of PG 0911+456 were extracted from rapid time-series photometry using standard Fourier analysis techniques. Supplemented by spectroscopic estimates of the star's mean atmospheric parameters, they were used as a basis for the “forward modelling” approach in asteroseismology. The latter culminates in the identification of one or more “optimal” models that can accurately reproduce the observed period spectrum. This naturally leads to an identification of the oscillations detected in terms of degree ℓ and radial order k, and infers the structural parameters of the target. Results: The high S/N low- and medium resolution spectroscopy obtained led to a refinement of the atmospheric parameters for PG 0911+456, the derived values being T_eff = 31 940 ± 220 K, log g = 5.767 ± 0.029, and log He/H = -2.548 ± 0.058. From the photometry it was possible to extract 7 independent pulsation periods in the 150-200 s range with amplitudes between 0.05 and 0.8% of the star's mean brightness. There was no indication of fine frequency splitting over the 68-day time baseline, suggesting a very slow rotation rate. An asteroseismic search of parameter space identified several models that matched the observed properties of PG 0911+456 well, one of which was isolated as the “optimal” model on the basis of spectroscopic and mode identification considerations. All the observed pulsations are identified with low-order acoustic modes with degree indices ℓ = 0,1,2 and 4, and match the computed periods with a dispersion of only 0.26%, typical of the asteroseismological studies carried out to date for this type of star. The inferred structural parameters of PG 0911+456 are T_eff = 31 940 ± 220 K (from spectroscopy), log {g} = 5.777 ± 0.002, Mast/Msun = 0.39 ± 0.01, log{M_env/Mast} = -4.69 ± 0.07, R/Rsun = 0.133 ± 0.001 and L/Lsun = 16.4 ± 0.8. We also derive the absolute magnitude MV = 4.82 ± 0.04 and a distance d = 930.3 ± 27.4 pc. [less ▲]

in Proceedings of 46th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (2007, December)

This paper proposes a methodology to stabilize relative equilibria in a model of identical, steered particles moving in three- dimensional Euclidean space. Exploiting the Lie group structure of the ... [more ▼]

This paper proposes a methodology to stabilize relative equilibria in a model of identical, steered particles moving in three- dimensional Euclidean space. Exploiting the Lie group structure of the resulting dynamical system, the stabilization problem is reduced to a consensus problem on the Lie algebra. The resulting equilibria correspond to parallel, circular and helical formations. We rst derive the stabilizing control laws in the presence of all-to-all communication. Providing each agent with a consensus estimator, we then extend the results to a general setting that allows for unidirectional and time-varying communication topologies. [less ▲]

in Proceedings of the 46th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (2007, December)

A method is proposed to characterize contraction of a set through orthogonal projections. For discrete-time multi-agent systems, quantitative estimates of convergence (to a consensus) rate are provided by ... [more ▼]

A method is proposed to characterize contraction of a set through orthogonal projections. For discrete-time multi-agent systems, quantitative estimates of convergence (to a consensus) rate are provided by means of contracting convex sets. Required convexity for the sets that should include the values that the transition maps of agents take is considered in a more general sense than that of Euclidean geometry. [less ▲]

Falls are frequent in the elderly and are responsible for an increased morbi-mortality. The elderly who has a tendency to fall is at higher risk of repeated hospitalisation and of institutionalisation. A ... [more ▼]

Falls are frequent in the elderly and are responsible for an increased morbi-mortality. The elderly who has a tendency to fall is at higher risk of repeated hospitalisation and of institutionalisation. A link between cognitive and gait disorders is put forward by several recent studies. This paper is concerned with the various gait abnormalities encountered in the elderly, especially seriale gait, and the means to detect them. [less ▲]

in Proceedings of the 46th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (2007, December)

This paper studies some extensions to the decentralized attitude synchronization of identical rigid bodies. Considering fully actuated Euler equations, the communication links between the rigid bodies are ... [more ▼]

This paper studies some extensions to the decentralized attitude synchronization of identical rigid bodies. Considering fully actuated Euler equations, the communication links between the rigid bodies are limited and the available information is restricted to relative orientations and angular velocities. In particular, no leader nor external reference dictates the swarm's behavior. The control laws are derived using two classical approaches of nonlinear control - tracking and energy shaping. This leads to a comparison of two corresponding methods which are currently considered for distributed synchronization - consensus and stabilization of mechanical systems with symmetries. [less ▲]

The IEEE 802.16 protocol, also known as WiMAX, has been designed to support long-range communications with high bitrates, using two operation modes: Point-to-Multi-Point (PMP) and Mesh. In the mesh mode ... [more ▼]

The IEEE 802.16 protocol, also known as WiMAX, has been designed to support long-range communications with high bitrates, using two operation modes: Point-to-Multi-Point (PMP) and Mesh. In the mesh mode, Subscriber Stations (SSs) can directly communicate with each other, thus forming a tree, and can be used to forward other's data packets in a multi-hop fashion. On the contrary, in the PMP mode only one hop communication toward the Base Station (BS) is allowed. In this paper, we investigate the performance of the mesh mode by proposing an algorithm for constructing the WiMAX mesh tree. Our algorithm increases routes' effective throughput by splitting long links into multiple shorter ones. We show through simulations that this approach leads to improving the throughput capacity of WiMAX-based wireless mesh networks. [less ▲]

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the infectious agent, called PrPsc, an abnormal isoform of the cellular prion protein, accumulates and replicates in lymphoid organs before affecting ... [more ▼]

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the infectious agent, called PrPsc, an abnormal isoform of the cellular prion protein, accumulates and replicates in lymphoid organs before affecting the nervous system. To clarify the cellular requirements for the neuro-invasion of the scrapie agent from the lymphoid organs to the central nervous system, we have studied, by confocal microscopy, the innervations within Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleen of mice in physiological conditions and after oral exposure to prion. Contacts between nerve fibres and PrPsc-associated cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), were evaluated in preclinical prion-infected mice. Using a double immunolabelling strategy, we demonstrated the lack of innervation of PrPsc-accumulating cells (FDCs). Contacts between nerve fibers and PrPsc-propagating cells (DCs) were detected in T-cell zones and cell-trafficking areas. This supports, for the first time, the possible implication of dendritic cells in the prion neuroinvasion process. [less ▲]